CSS [attribute$=value] Selector

Posted in CSS Tutorial

Updated on Oct 27, 2024

By Mari Selvan

👁️ 14 - Views

⏳ 4 mins

💬 1 Comment

Photo Credit to CodeToFun

🙋 Introduction

The [attribute$=value] selector in CSS is an attribute selector that targets elements based on their attributes. Specifically, it selects elements whose specified attribute ends with a given value.

This selector is particularly useful for styling elements dynamically based on their attribute values, making it a powerful tool for web design.

💡 Syntax

The signature of the [attribute$=value] Selector is as follows:

Syntax

Copied

[attribute$="value"] {
    /* CSS properties */
}

In this syntax, attribute is the name of the attribute you want to select, and value is the string that the attribute's value should end with.

📝 Example

Here is an example of how to use the [attribute$=value] selector in CSS:

☠️ HTML

HTML

Copied

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>CSS [attribute$=value] Selector Example</title>
    <link rel="stylesheet" href="styles.css">
</head>
<body>
    <ul>
        <li><a href="about.html">About Us</a></li>
        <li><a href="contact.html">Contact</a></li>
        <li><a href="services.html">Our Services</a></li>
        <li><a href="portfolio.html">Portfolio</a></li>
    </ul>
</body>
</html>

🎨 CSS

CSS

Copied

/* Style for links that end with .html */
a[href$=".html"] {
    color: blue;
    font-weight: bold;
}

/* Style for links that end with .html and have a specific background */
a[href$=".html"]:hover {
    background-color: #e0e0e0;
}

In this example:

All links (<a>) that end with .html are styled with a blue color and bold text.
On hover, these links change their background color, providing interactive feedback.

💬 Usage Tips

The [attribute$=value] selector is case-sensitive, meaning that it distinguishes between uppercase and lowercase letters. Make sure to use the correct casing when applying styles.
Combine this selector with other selectors to refine your targeting. For example, you can apply styles to only <a> tags that end with .html using a[href$=".html"].

⚠️ Common Pitfalls

Be cautious when using this selector in performance-sensitive situations, as attribute selectors can be slower than class or ID selectors due to their more complex matching process.
Ensure that the attribute you are targeting exists on the element; otherwise, the styles will not be applied.

🎉 Conclusion

The [attribute$=value] selector is a versatile and powerful feature in CSS that allows for dynamic styling based on attribute values. By utilizing this selector, you can create more responsive and visually appealing web pages, enhancing the overall user experience.

Whether you're styling links, buttons, or other elements, this selector can help you achieve precise and effective results.